GE’s Industrial Solutions is investing an additional $1.3 million into operations at its plant in West Burlington, Iowa, creating a manufacturing Center of Excellence. The addition of new product lines will create about 50 new jobs.

The company plans to incorporate Lean Manufacturing techniques coupled with plant and equipment investments to improves quality and reduce customer lead times. The project will also include Information Technology infrastructure enhancements.

Two product lines will be added to the plant’s local manufacturing operations. The company will add paralleling switchgear equipment for mission-critical applications including; data centers, financial systems and hospitals. In addition, EntelliGuard low-voltage air circuit breakers will be added for reliable equipment and personnel protection in industrial and commercial settings.

“This is an exciting day for us,” said Chad Ebeling, GE’s Plant Manager in West Burlington. “The investments and job creation are true testaments to our employees’ hard work and dedication. We have a committed and passionate team that takes pride in their jobs and in manufacturing high-quality electrical distribution products. We’re thrilled to bring these new product lines and new jobs to West Burlington.”

“GE is investing in the Industrial Solutions business at the highest levels in its history,” said Bob Gilligan, CEO of GE’s Industrial Solutions business. “We’re infusing money into our operations to improve our customers’ experience in every way. Streamlining our manufacturing processes and investing in new equipment and engineering enables us to bring customers new products faster and with better quality. We’re also investing in a global information technology infrastructure to improve communication and coordination between the sales team, the supply chain and customers.”

Company officials said “GE’s global investments focus on redefining the Industrial Solutions product portfolio and accelerating its ability to deliver high-quality solutions faster than ever before through rapid prototyping with 3-D printing and early customer feedback and validation.”

Stuart Thompson, General Manager of GE’s Power Equipment business, added, “This investment enables us to take customer responsiveness one step further by optimizing production with advanced manufacturing capabilities.”

“Today’s announcement by GE will lead to the creation of high-quality, high-paying jobs right here in Southeast Iowa,” said U.S. Representative Dave Loebsack. “Iowa has a strong manufacturing base, and investments like this will help grow our economy and put Iowans back to work. GE’s decision to invest in the West Burlington plant demonstrates how strong Iowa’s workforce is and the strength and competitiveness of Iowa manufacturing.”